The ''Oxford Journal'' was a

free newspaper Free newspapers are distributed free of charge, often in central places in cities and towns, on public transport, with other newspapers, or separately door-to-door. The revenues of such newspapers are based on advertising. They are published at ...

distributed throughout the city of

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

in the county of

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the north west of South East England. It is a mainly rural county, with its largest settlement being the city of Oxford. The county is a centre of research and development, primaril ...

, UK. It was published under licence by Taylor Newspapers Ltd (who also publish other free newspapers including the '' Basingstoke Observer'', ''Oxford Property Weekly'' and ''Auto Weekly'').

Early history

The paper was launched in January 1973 from an old toy factory in Cowley by Tony Rosser. It was later bought by Goodhead Press, who sold the paper in 1996 to Courier Newspapers (Oxford) Ltd, owned by Bob Urwin and Peter Chatterton, which continued to publish the paper alongside its own, the '' South Oxfordshire Courier''. Both and ''Courier'' and ''Journal'' were taken over by the

Milestone Group Catenae Innovation (formerly Milestone Group) is a British Digital Media and Technology company. Originally a cross media proprietor with holdings in radio, publishing and television, the company now focuses on the digital media and technology se ...

in 2003.

Mergers and rebrands

In 2004 the paper was renamed ''Courier Journal'' as part of a merger with the ''Courier'' to produce one paper covering Oxfordshire, but this did not last and in 2005 the paper was relaunched in Oxford as the ''Oxford City Journal''; however, in September 2006, the original title was reinstated after Milestone Group sold the ''Courier'' group to its managing director. When owned by the Milestone Group, the paper's sister publications included the magazine ''Oxfordshire Living''. On 3 January 2008, it was announced on that week's issue that the ''Oxford Journal'' would supersede its sister paper, the ''South Oxfordshire Courier''. The paper was relaunched in 2012 by Howard Taylor (owner of Taylor Newspapers Ltd) and Chrissie Woodward (sales director of ''Oxford Journal''). Woodward has since left the company and has been replaced by Associate Director Julian Richings. In the autumn of 2014 the ''Oxford Journal'' name was once again retired by Taylor Newspapers in favour of an extension to the '' Oxfordshire Guardian'', which has now closed.

References

Newspapers published in Oxford Publications established in 1973 {{England-newspaper-stub